Enough with the sequels!!
Last week, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared that the Philippines was once again, “In a State of Emergency” due to recent coup rumors. What followed was by far “the most pathetic excuse of a coup attempt ever by a military”. The first quote was taken from the Philippine star…the second, from my belligerent roommate. I must admit though, he did make sense. When asked why we seem to have rally’s and coup attempts as we seem to have, I simply answered, “It’s what we do”
From what I gathered (correct me if I’m wrong. please) some army personnel barricaded themselves in a building and called for the people to protect them and rally to them, much like former President FVR did back in the day. The only thing is Ramos was able to summon hoards of protestors with the help of (also Former President) Cory Aquino. This resulted in the world famous People Power Rally that we all have come to love. Fast-forward almost 20 years and you have the same attempt that rallied about 2000-3000 people. Now you tell me, is this proof that “People power is not obsolete. People power is very much alive. People power like the truth, is unstoppable"?
I am a firm believer of what People power stood for, and what it still stands for, but I am getting sick and tired of all these imitations and sequels. Ok, like ghost busters, Terminator, Back to the Future, and possibly Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (and this is up for debate), People Power’s sequel was a significant hit. People Power II, or “Edsa Dos” was a success. We got the job done (ousted corrupt, overweight, never finished high school, and probably always drunk President) and I’m pretty sure it was a victory for democracy. However it should have stopped there. Instead, Edsa dos has created a cultural backlash, it’s become the “In-Thing). And thus we have ruined something that was pretty damn good when it started… now we have Terminator 3, Teenage mutant ninja turtles 3 (possible the worst thing ever) and we have scary movie 3 and 4 as well as final destination 3 (how they even made a sequel was beyond me). Whenever I see all rallies that the media portray as PPIII or PP IV I cannot help but cringe. Like the other rallies, these poor sequels, were created half assed, many were not directed or produced by there original creators, and those who created these things have lost sight of what the heart of it all really was. They have lost the meaning and moral of what the movie/rally really stood for.
I’m not saying stop rallying, that would be obstruction of freedom of speech, and that’s a whole other debate. What I simply ask is that we think before we act. People want to rally to oppose GMA and call for her resignation. That is Fine, but think first: whom do we have who is to actually replace her? What would be the social, economic, and political repercussions to this? Where would this leave the value of the Peso feel that those who rally and protest are overlooking these questions.
When it all comes down to it, education is what it all boils down to. People need to learn and understand what is really happening in our country. If we can find the right answers to that we might possibly be able to create somthing new, origional, unchallangeable…something like broekback mountain(I dont care what you say, it was a bloody good movie). However we must be careful and remember the moral of the story we create, otherwise we might have another lame sequel that retards the origonal theme of what we created. Heaven forbid we come up with something so stupid and idiotic like Rocky 6…wait…what…their actually making a Rocky 6?!?!? shit..we’re fucked.
PS: this a good article to read too…
http://www.bulatlat.com/archive/011excuse_me.htm
